Flotation agent and method of making the same



Nov. 1, 1927.

' v 1,647,793 GEORGE 'FLOTATION AGENT AND METHOD JOF MAKING THE {SAME0rigina1 Filed March a. 1924 SULPHUR iiwufliorn I Patented Nov, 1, 127

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PATENT os c,

Original application filed March 8, 1924, Serial No. 623.642. Dividedand this application filed February 2, 1925.

This invention relates to a modified oil and method of producing thesame, and has for its principal object such a product and methodespecially adaptedfor use in the treatment of ores for recovery of thein'etalliferous content by flotation.-

I have found that if an oil having a tar acid constituent or content isheated and has added to it, sodium or potassium in hydroxide in suitableform, and if sulphur be present or added to the mixture, and the massheated to a proper point,- the 011 will be so modified as to enable itto be used in flotation concentration with very s satisfactory results,from the standpoint of both recovery and economy. This application is adivision of On nal application, Serial-No. 623,642, filed arch 8,1924.In the accompanyingdrawing, I have illustrated, more or lessdiagrammatically, a laboratory apparatus which may be utilized for thecarrying out of my process and the production of my product, it beingunderstood that this is merely one illustrative ap paratus and that the,method may be carried out and the product obtained on a large scale byapparatus functioning in a manner similar to that shown, such apparatusbeing so well known to those skilled in the art, and

consequently I do not contemplate being restricted to the apparatusdisclosed in the accompanying drawing. e

In the drawing 10 des' ates a flask or receptacle in which the oil islaced, this rec-e tacle 10 being provided wi a closure 11, mm whichdepends a cage 12 by wires 12 or the like, in which is placed sodiumhydroxide 13. Extending upwardly through the closure 11 is the condenser14, which is sealed or closed at the top 14' through which extendsdownwardly into the condenser the tube 15 having a supply pipe 16projecting downwardly therein to a point ad acent the bottom, the tube15 being further provided with an overflow or discharge duct 17 Thecondenser 14 is provided with an escape 14 adjacent the top to form adischarge for hydrogen sulphide or other gases evolved in the rocess ofreconstruction.

In the 'modification of oil, according to my invention, the sodiumhydroxide to the desired amount, as for example 25% by weight on the oilto be reconstructed, is

placed inthe cage 12, the oil having pre- Serial No. 6,493.

viously been added to the receptacle 10. Cold water flows into the tube15 through the inlet pipe 16 continuously discharging through the duct17, thereby assuring a continuous flow of cold water from the boton tomof tube 15 upwardly in well known manner. Heat is applied to the bottomof receptacle 10 and the oil therein heated. When the temperaturereaches, for example, ap proximately 100 Centigrade. such water as asmay be present in the oil is ,violatilized and rises into the condenser14, wherein it will be condensed and drained back through the cage 12,dissolving the sodium hydroxide gradually and carrying the same insolution until all of the sodium hydroxide has been amalgated or carriedinto the oil. At this point sulphur in the form of flowers of sulphur,for example, may be 'added to the oil, or'it may have been placed in thereceptacle prior to the beginning of the operations. In either event therise of the temperature to the proper degree (above 120 C. for example,)will result in the melting of the-sulphur, which will then react or com-0 bine with the mixture of oil and sodium hydroxide resulting in themodification of the oil to render it especially adaptable for use inflotation operations. 4

I Since it is apparent that a relatively small 35 amount of sodiumhydroxide is used, many or most oils of a commercial grade will containsufficient water to dissolve the sodium hydroxide, if the same be addedin solid form, but should such water content not be 99 sufiicient, thesmall amount of water necessary may be added directly to the oil. I alsocontemplate the application of sodium hydroxide in paste or powderedform, if I find same desirable.

As an example of the proportions of-the ingredients used in thetreatment of the oil, I have satisfactorily reconstructed a typical coaltar creosote by the addition of 25% sodium hydroxide by weight on the100 oil and approximately 5% of sulphur.

It should be recognized that when sodium hydroxide is referred to in thedescription and claims, that potassium hydroxide. or other homologuesmay be utilized in lieu of the sodium hydroxide, and I do not wishto berestricted to the use of that specific "ingredient in the praetice of myprocess.

What I claim is: 1. A process of forming an agent for flo- W? tationconsisting of heating an oil containing a tar acid, and adding theretosodium hydroxide and sulphur.

2. A process of the class described, consisting in heating an oilcontaining a tar acid having sodium hydroxide in solution and addingsulphur thereto. 4

3. A process of the class described, consisting in applying sodiumhydroxide to a mixture of oil and sulphur heated to a point below themelting point of said sulphur, and I then heating said oil to a pointabove the melting point of said sulphur.

4. A process of the class described, consisting in applying sodiumhydroxide in solution to a mixture of oil and sulphur heated to a pointbelow the melting point of said sulphur, and thereafter raising thetemperature of said mixture to the melting point of I said sulphur. I

5. A process of the class described, consisting in heating a mixture ofsulphur and vto said oil and sulphur mixture, and thereafter raising thetemperature of said mixture above the melting pointof said sulphur.

6. An agent for use in flotation processes comprising the resultantproduct of the heating of an oil containing a tar acid mixed with sodiumhydroxide and sulphur whereby such product emulsifies more readily inwater than the original oil and possesses increased selectivity towardmetalliferous matter over that possessed by the original oil.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.BARNETT L. GEORGE.

